Impact of False Claims

What happens to decision making when false claims are made by sources perceived to be trustworthy?

U.S. Secretary of the Navy, Frank Knox, falsely stated that spies in Honolulu aided Japan in the attack on Pearl Harbor. He had no evidence, and his claim was contrary to the findings of U.S. intelligence sources. In fact, many Japanese Americans, including members of the U.S. National Guard, acted to defend the islands at the time of the attack. Knox made his claim after spending only 36 hours in Hawaii. Were the false charges a simple error in judgment, a misstatement or the result of prejudice and unjust motives? Knox may have been anxious to find another target for blame--to prevent criticism of the Navy for being unprepared at Pearl Harbor. Yet, as early as 1933, Knox had warned of the danger of war with Japan and had publicly advocated the internment of every Japanese resident of the Hawaiian Islands.^[5] Knox's false charges played a major role in escalating the hysteria and anti-Japanese sentiments among many U.S. citizens and key government leaders.^[6]

Soon after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. government knew that Japanese Americans and Japanese resident aliens in Hawaii had not assisted Japan. U.S. Navy intelligence, the FBI and military intelligence investigations all reported that no such sabotage had been conducted. Credible leaders in positions of responsibility knew these people of Japanese ancestry were innocent. In spite of this knowledge, military and government officials did not announce that Secretary Knox's statement was false. They allowed the American public to wrongly believe that Japanese Americans and their immigrant elders were guilty of acting against the United States.^[7]

5. Greg Robinson. By Order of the President. (Cambridge and London, Harvard University Press, 2001), Page 77.

6. Personal Justice Denied, pages 5, 264.

7. Personal Justice Denied, page 56.

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